Process of treating vanadium ores.



. in ore containing vanadium.

"vi r r x mdrih lt l dliit JUSTIN H. HAYNES AND WILBER D. ENGLE, OF DENVER, QOLORADG.

PRU3E$$ @F TPXEATlhK-ZS VANADEUM QFiE$- No. eaaeso.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14, 1906.

Application filed December 1, 1905. Serial No. 289,737.

To all whom it may concern: I 1

Be it known that we, Jos'rm H. HAYNES l and WrLnnn D. ENGLE, citizens of the Unitedv States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented a certain new and useful Process of Treating Vanadium Ores; andwe do declare the foll lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

(Eur invention relates to a process for treat- ..n carryin out our process the ore is first suitably crus ed, preferably so that it will pass through a twelve-mesh screen or finer, and is then boiled with a solution of alkaline carbonate, preferably sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate, until the vanadium contained in the ore is brought into solution. The stren th of the sodium-carbonate solution and t e length of the time necessary to boil is determined by the vanadium in the ore and will probabl l 1 vary with every district. We would state, owever, that one hundred pounds of sodium carbonate for one ton of ore for every per cent. of vanadium will give good results. So far as the time during which the boiling treatment should be continued, we may state that ordinarily this step of the process should be continued about one hour. It must be understood, however, that the proportion of the sodium carbonate or other alkaline carbonate employed to a ton of ore may be varied, and we therefore do not intend to limit ourselves to any exact proportions. Neither do we wish it understood that we are limited as to any exact time or period for boiling the ore. After the vanadium is dissolved it is precipitated from the solution, either with or without neutralization, as calcium vanadat'e by the addition of water-slaked lime.

The usual method for the treatment of this ore has been to roast the ore with dry salt. This converts the vanadium into sodium vanadate soluble in water. The mass is then treated with water until all of the vanadium is dissolved. Our-invention conslsts in the treating of the'ore, either with or without a preliminary roasting, with a solution of alkaline carbonate, preferably sodium carbonate, at any temperature that is deemed advisable. This treatment brings the'Vana-= dium into solution preferably of the formula Na.,V,O,. All the other elements present in the ore are undissolved and are consequently left in the residue or tailings. This method in some cases works better by giving the ore a preliminary roasting. it may also be said that the temperature at which the ore is to be treated varies somewhat with the district from which the ore comes.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1. The herein-described process of treating ores containing vanadium, consisting in boiling the crushed ore with a solution of alkaline carbonate until the vanadium contained in the ore is brou ht into solution.

2. The herein-described process of treating ore containing vanadium, consisting in boiling the crushed ore with a solution of alkaline carbonate until the vanadium contained in the ore is brought into solution; and finally separating the vanadium from the solution.

3. The herein-described process of separating vanadium from ore, consisting in first crushing the ore to be treated; second, boiling the ore with a solution of alkaline carbonate until the metal to be extracted is placed in solution; third, drawing off the solution containing the dissolved metal; and finally preci itating the said metal as calcium vanadate y the addition of water-slaked lime.

In testimony whereof we a'lfix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JUSTIN H. HAYNES. WILBER D. ENGLE.

Witnesses as to the signature of Justin H. Haynes:

N. E. S'rnTMAN, F. R. HYNn.

Witnesses to the signature of W'ilber D. Engle:

A. J. OBRIEN, Dana NELSON. 

